Farmhouse in the Sunflowers

I completed this commission piece Christmas Eve.  It is hand painted and fused on two separate pieces of glass so that the sunflowers appear to stand in the foreground of the picture.  The technique rendered a 3D dimensional effect.

Firebowl--Combing Glass

This 12" bowl is an example of glass that was superheated and then raked while still in a molten state.  The raked glass was then annealed and cooled, then added to two circular glass pieces and re-fused and slumped to form a bowl.  The bottom was left clear glass so that the transparent layers remain visible.

Triptych and Roll Up Vase

These two pieces are from the Patty Gray workshop.  I had the triptych framed in black as three panels.  The roll up vase stands 7" tall in a gentle heart-shaped form.

Christmas Cheer Wavy Bowl

This is commissioned piece for the holidays,  It was done as a three-glass layer blocked in a 12-inch casting ring and adorned with stockings and Xmas trees.  I used pink/gold streaky glass capped in clear with irid white as the base layer.  The glass was then slumped into an 11" wavy bowl mold.

Photo Fuse Paper with Glass Frit

I wanted to share a certain glass coloring technique that I am working to perfect. It involves "burnishing" a photo onto the glass using photo fusing paper (requires a specific printer and iron-based toner) and then coming back with glass frit and painting on the photo to add color and dimension. I first full fused the piece at 1450. Using the photo fusing paper guidelines, I fused the photo on the "window" at 1300.  I then added fine and medium frit to the photo using the colors taken from the original photo, applied hairspray to keep it in place, and refused at 1350.  This retained the grain to give it a dimensional quality. Pleased with the results...

Western Colorado Journeys

I recently joined the online gallery of artists at Western Colorado Journeys magazine (cover above).  Several of my premier pieces are displayed online (http://www.westerncoloradojourneys.com/artist.php?userid=44) and will be published in their annual guide in March.  Please visit the site to see some great artwork and great wines all from the Western Slope of Colorado.

Midland Arts Company

A photo of my work on display at the Midland Arts Company in Rifle, CO.  Join the Midland Arts Company for their Christmas Open House On December 3rd from 6 pm to 9pm.  Visit their facebook page for more information.

Results of the Patty Gray Advanced Fusing Workshop

As promised, several of the completed pieces from Patty Gray's week-long workshop at D&L Art Glass Supply in Denver.  Patty is an outstanding teacher and I would recommend her classes to anyone at any level in glass fusing.  D&L was also a perfect host and provided excellent  class space and support (shameless plug but true!).

Patty Gray at D&L Art Glass in Denver

I have had the tremendous opportunity to study under Patty Gray all week in Denver.  These are some examples of fused pieces that come out of her class.  These are all in various stages of completion.  I will post the final product once they are done, including a "roll up" vase.

Hand-Painted Rectangular Bowl in Hi-Fire Spectrum Glass

Spectrum hi-fire glass produces beautiful slumped pieces.  I like to use it with hand-painted pieces that illuminate the art as if it were backlit with a bright floodlight.  You have to fuse it very slowly with a bubble squeeze schedule or else it will bubble up.  I also do the hand-paintings separately and then fuse then to the larger piece in two fusings.  This also minimizes bubble entrapment.